SIRAHA, OCTOBER 18
Police in Siraha have formed a probe committee to investigate the alleged torture of a woman in police custody.
According to Chief District Officer Lalbabu Kawadi, the probe panel is led by Harikishor Chandrabansi, an officer at District Administration Office, and includes representatives of security agencies and civil society. "The committee will investigate the alleged torture in police custody and present its report in five days," said CDO.
Locals of Mirchaiya yesterday had staged a demonstration on the East-West Highway protesting what they called torture meted out by police to Jiwachhidevi Sah over the investigation of a murder. Police had taken Jiwachhidevi into custody on Friday in connection with investigation of the murder of her mother-in-law Gubadi Devi Sah Haluwai, 62, of Rampurbirta of Mirchaiya Municipality, .
Besides staging chakkajam, the protesters also picketed the Area Police Office of Mirchaiya demanding investigation into the 'torture' and action against the policemen involved. In the wake of yesterday's protest, security agencies and locals held a discussion today and agreed to form a probe committee to look into the alleged torture.
Meanwhile, Mirchaiya police arrested Jiwachhidevi's husband Mangal Sah, 70, and her son Rambabu, 40, in relation to the murder. "Police are now investigating the two arrested persons' possible role in the murder by producing them at the court," said Siraha District Police Office Chief SP Arjun Timalsina.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 19 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
